Friday, March 26, 2010

My Weekend Crush

Say what you will about Nancy Pelosi, but the lady delivered. When it counted most, when others swore it was futile, when the full brunt of an angry opposition came down on her, she delivered. Not to go all Joe Biden on the situation, but the passage of health care reform this week was a big fucking deal. Sure, it’s not everything many of us had hoped for. And it’s a lot more than others ever wanted. But this is how progress works. It is rarely pretty. It is always hard. It is never perfect. Change is a process, but it won’t happen without that first, gigantic step.

And it might not have ever happened without the Speaker of the House. Now I’ve had my differences with Pelosi’s leadership style and overall approach before. But I’ve never doubted her intellect and conviction, and now I’ll never doubt her toughness again. By all accounts it was Speaker Pelosi who prodded President Obama to stay aggressive about passing health care reform. By all accounts it was Speaker Pelosi who cajoled Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to grow a pair. And by all account it was Speaker Pelosi who strong-armed the skittish House Democrats to get the votes needed, more even, to pass this historic piece of legislation.

Now l still believe that the role of government is to help people, to solve big problems, and to ensure our life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. And it’s really hard to have any let alone all of those three if you’re sick and can’t afford to get better. The simple right to be healthy, to even just be alive, shouldn’t be reserved for the rich. We are a society that is plenty wealthy enough to make sure our most basic health is ensured. It’s downright shameful that we don’t. But that begins to end now.

Pelosi, who turns 70 today, is not only the first female Speaker of the House, but as second in line to the presidency she is perhaps the most powerful woman in American history. And she has done it all, amazingly, with that near perpetual smile. For this, she has been called many things. A dingbat. A dilettante. And, my favorite, a San Francisco liberal. The horrors! Yet somehow, people still buy Rice-a-Roni.

But such chronic underestimation is something she is no doubt used to, and clearly has no problem overcoming. There were times during this past year when I was sure that all hope was lost, that the bill was dead, that the Democrats simply didn’t have the spine. But that was just me underestimating her, too. She had the spine all along. Sure it wasn’t seamless, and certainly the work isn’t done. But it’s that first, gigantic step we needed. Thank you, Madame Speaker. Have a happy birthday, you’ve earned it. Happy weekend, all.

I haven't seen news for long,so they did health insurance thing?I thought it's a week ago,.

by the way,the interesting is that generally peoplethinks american like to do something first thanother country, but you know,I don't want to point out though,

we're gonna have woman president.(maybe faster than...)I just respond you said she is first woman speaker?

others already have, so I want,beside politic, I had huge disappointment today,I saw a guy has a tintin bag, which looks very prettyI only able to see it through window outside oftrain, so I though what's a cute person!

The Hippies Have it Made: The Squares Obtain New Trades [Today's News Poem, March 27, 2010]http://toylit.blogspot.com/2010/03/hippies-have-it-made-squares-obtain-new.html“Tens of thousands of red-shirted protesters threatened to force soldiers from the historic heart of Thailand's capital Saturday, raising tensions in what so far has been a nonviolent bid to bring down the government.”--KINAN SUCHAOVANICH (AP) – 9 hours ago at 12:35pm PSThttp://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g3j-vAVG1fg3kEfnogTiH8_4EXvwD9EMTJPG0“Tea Party groups like FreedomWorks recognize that they are benefiting from the labor of many people who have been hit hard economically. But its chairman, the former House majority leader Dick Armey, argued that their ranks will remain strong — and connected — even as members find work.”--Kate Zernike, The New York Times, March 27, 2010http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/28/us/politics/28teaparty.html?hp““It’s no worse than alcohol,” said Ms. Kutilek, 30, an administrator at Metropolitan Community Church of San Francisco. “Drunk people get really belligerent. I don’t know anybody who gets belligerent on marijuana. They just get chill.””--Jesse McKinley, The New York Times, March 25, 2010http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/26/us/26pot.html

The madness mobs provoke is only matchedWith blandness slobs invoke. The game is hatchedInside a game of brinks. They tote their greed:Deride a claim that thinks. Or vote for weed:A lifestyle (pair with work). Or dare the cops—In strife-bile, share death's lurk—they cleaned with mopsA pool of protest blood. The teabag punks—The ghouls of foe-blessed crud—are fascist skunks,With shirts of browner shades of protest hue.They'll hurt: they're clowns with blades. Our blood is due.

Agree with you re Pelosi, but just wanted to clarify that she is behind Biden in the presidential succession line. I think that's what you meant by 'second in line to the President' but wanted to be clear (it's the lawyer in me).